DIMAPUR, JUNE 17 (MExN): The Nagaland State BJP unit President Dr. M.Chuba Ao during the recent BJP National executive meeting at Goa met various central leaders and apprised them of what was termed as the “in- complacent attitude of the Central Government under UPA towards the State Government under the DAN (Democratic alliance of Nagaland) Govt which comprises of NPF, BJP & JDU headed by the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
According to a press note from the party spokesman K. James Vizo, its President expressed that the State Annual plan allocated for 2013-14 has been unfair and unjust. He further stated that the party has to raise the following issues since it is political and economical in nature and parliamentary intervention was needed.
Firstly it was pointed out that Nagaland’s Special Status was ignored. In this regard, the BJP explained that Nagaland State was created in 1963 as a “political state” as it was necessitated by Naga political issue. It was known at that time that Nagaland State would not be economically viable, stated the BJP while reminding about clause 11 of the 16- point agreement that brought Nagaland State in to existence.
Accordingly it was mentioned that “to supplement the revenue of Nagaland, there would be need for the Government of India to pay from the consolidated fund of India: Lump sum towards the cost of development; a grant- in-aid towards the cost of administration”.
The BJP stated that the Government of India is gradually diluting the special status of Nagaland by adding many more States in the list of special category states, and applying the normative approach to the special needs of a politically sensitive State like Nagaland.
The BJP also stated that “due to the normative and unhelpful approach of the Government of India, Nagaland which is the second oldest state in the North-East, has been given the smallest plan outlay in 2013-14 amongst all the other 8 States of North East India”. “The plan outlay was brought down by about 15% from Rs 2300 crore in 2012-13 to Rs 2000 crore in 2013-14. However, all other special category states were given enhancement/growth in their Annual Plan outlay in 2013-14. Nagaland is the only exception, which indicates step-motherly treatment”, stated the BJP Nagaland.
It was also informed that with effect from this year, the NLCPR (Non-Lapsable Central Resources Pool and NEC (North-Eastern Council) under DoNER Ministry has been allocated by Planning Commission and included as part of the State’s Plan outlay. “This appears to be a strategy or a trick to artificially push up the State’s plan outlay, but without any addition to the State’s resources. Hence, it is unfair, especially as it was done without any prior discussion with the Northern Eastern states. This also undermines the importance o f DoNER Ministry”, stated the BJP.
According to the BJP, the present policy of Planning Commission appears to be in contradiction of the very policies of the Government of India since NEC was created by passing an Act of the Parliament to ensure balanced regional development of the NE region. “While NLCPR was initiated to provide addition fund to the State Plan programs to the NE States from the 10% of the budgets of the various Ministries of the Government of India so as to fund specific programmes for economic and social upliftment of the North Eastern States”.
Stating that the DoNER Ministry (Department of North Eastern Region) was created by the NDA Government at the Centre to take special care of the development needs of the North East regions, the BJP pointed out that the Central Government “is trying to wind up the Ministry, by making it irrelevant and un-important”.
It was also informed that during the NDA regime, a senior Cabinet Minister, Arun Shourie was looking after the DoNER Ministry. “Now the UPA is already downgrading the Ministry by making a very junior Minister of state to head the members of the North Eastern Council”.
Pointing out that 8 Governors and 8 Chief Minister are members of the North Eastern Council, it was not proper for a junior Minister of State to chair the North Eastern Council meetings, the press note expressed its opposition to the attempt of the UPA Government to down grade the importance of the DoNER Ministry, and then to abolish it finally.
Further, the State BJP demanded from the Central Government to review the State Annual plan for 2013-14 and re-allocate the Plan.
